Method and apparatus for analyzing partial discharges in electrical devices

Abstract

A method of analyzing partial discharge data collected from an electrical device includes collecting partial discharge data from a first electrical device belonging to a group of electrical devices. The group of electrical devices is at least partially defined by at least one electrical device classification. The method also includes generating a comparison of at least a portion of the partial discharge data collected from the first electrical device with at least a portion of the partial discharge data collected from at least one second electrical device. The at least one second electrical device is selected from the group of electrical devices that includes the first electrical device. The method further includes transmitting the results.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to electrical device condition assessment analyzers and more particularly, to methods and analysis systems for assessing partial discharge (PD) in electrical machinery.

[0002] Partial discharge events in an insulation system are pulsed releases of energy that propagate out from their site of origin. The propagation occurs according to the structure surrounding the partial discharge events. An internally generated partial discharge pulse appears and propagates at the end regions of an electrical device, such as a high or low voltage bushing and generator end windings, as specific pulse waves in accordance with the surrounding structure, the location of the origin of the pulse, and the pulse characteristics. Although partial discharge analysis has been used for many years on various electrical equipment, at least some data collections and data interpretations are performed substantially manually using labor-intensive tech...

Images